PCB chief flies to India in bid to save series

Pakistan's cricket chief flew to India Thursday in a last-ditch bid to rescue the series between the two nations, in doubt following the Mumbai attacks.

India are due to tour Pakistan early next year, but strained political relations after New Delhi blamed the deadly siege on elements based here mean the series is now unlikely to go ahead.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt will meet Indian cricket officials on the sidelines of an Asian Cricket Council meeting on Friday to try to rescue the tour, the Board said.

"The PCB chairman is off to India and on the sidelines of the ACC meeting he will have one-to-one talks with BCCI officials and try to ensure the series is played on schedule," chief operating officer Salim Altaf told AFP.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sought government clearance for the tour, during which India is due to play a warm-up game, three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international.

Altaf said the PCB still hoped to go ahead with the series, "even if neutral venues are considered as options."

"The PCB sees England's return to India to play two Tests as a positive step, and we feel that more such positive steps will be taken for the betterment of cricket," he added.

England are currently playing the first Test in Chennai after agreeing to return to India following security assurances.

They had to abandon the last two one-day internationals of their series following the Mumbai attacks.